State and local office candidates participate in Ames Chamber forum

Friday

The Ames Chamber of Commerce held a candidate forum for state and local candidates Friday afternoon.

State candidates included Brenda Brink, Democratic candidate for the Iowa House District 49 seat, alongside Republican incumbent Dave Deyoe, whom she is challenging.

Democratic incumbents Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, and Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, were in attendance. Tim Winter, a Democratic candidate in Iowa House District 48, also participated in the forum alongside Republican incumbent Rob Bacon.

State Sen. Herman Quirmbach, a Democratic candidate in Iowa House District 23, was at the event alongside challenger Libertarian candidate Eric Cooper.

State Sen. Annette Sweeney, a Republican candidate in Iowa House District 25 was also in attendance.

Candidates not in attendance included Sweeney’s Democratic challenger, Tracy Freese, and Republican Ben Brown, who is challenging Wessel-Kroeschell.

The first round of the forum was composed of the state candidates describing the biggest challenge Iowa is facing.

Most candidates mentioned funding education, the workforce and affordable housing.

Deyoe said there is a positive in the low unemployment rate in the state, but finding enough people with the right skills to match the job can increase the workforce.

“We should be encouraging individuals that are government-assisted to become a part of the workforce,” he said.

Winter said he there are so many issues, but ones he mentioned that especially stood out was the loss of veteran programs and clean water and air issues facing the state.

When candidates were asked what they would bring to the table, Kroeschell emphasized the importance of listening.

“I truly value forums like this where I can listen to constituents,” she said.

Cooper said the importance of the new perspective he would add could help preserve a free society for Iowa.

Decreased funding for colleges was mentioned during the forum due to rising college tuition for students. Candidates were asked if they are concerned with the change in funding for higher-level education.

Many candidates said they shared the same belief as others on the panel — that not enough is being done to change the rising rates of tuition.

Winter said Iowa needs to keep tuition low for trade schools, community colleges and full universities. He said higher tuition will continue to draw Iowa talent away from the state that may need them the most.

“If we lose our youth, we lose Iowa,” Winter said. “This is the key to keep Iowa up and going.”

Cooper was the single candidate to reject the idea of decreasing tuition for higher education. He said our universities are thriving and we should be spending the least amount of money on higher education.

A question asked by the audience covered the changes to the privatization of the Medicaid system. All of the candidates said there are improvements that need to be made to the system.

Brink said telling stories of those who are effected is the best method, but they are not always listened to.

Winter said he wants to take the system back into the state’s hands.

“We need to do what’s best for the patients,” he said. “We need empathy and not just for older generations, but the younger generations who are the future of Iowa.”

story county supervisors

Story County Board of Supervisor candidates Martin Chitty, Rick Sanders, Linda Murken and Joshua Opperman also attended the event. Chitty and Sanders are Republicans, while Murken and Opperman are Democrats.

The local candidates were asked what they believe the greatest challenge is facing the county.

Sanders, Chitty and Opperman said the workforce needs to change. Murken said paying adequate wages is one issue, while climate change is another.

“We can work on that on whatever level of government,” she said. “We need to work on our agriculture land and cover crops.”

Properly serving the Iowa State University community — one person stating its major role in the Ames population — was another topic of discussion raised.

Sanders and Chitty said they both agreed speaking with students directly on a more frequent basis would benefit the board’s knowledge of their needs. They also said holding meetings on campus would create an opportunity for students to learn more about Story County and what the board does.

Murken said the board needs to support the entire community, and suggested to move official business around the county. Opperman said he agreed with Murken’s proposal.

The final question to the local candidates asked what they hope to accomplish in their roles if elected or re-elected.

Chitty said he wanted to create more opportunities for smaller communities that can flourish.

Murken said she wants to change the funding of mental health services, and wants to slowly phase out privatized Medicaid.

Sanders said he wants to continue making Story County fiscally responsible due to the success it has had over the years.

Opperman didn’t say any specific change he wants, but to an overall positive shift for the community.

“I want to start us on a path to be able to grow,” he said.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.